Born in Thurlow, a small village in Suffolk, Elizabeth Frink spent much of her childhood in the county. She often drew inspiration from the landscape and wildlife of rural Suffolk, and her early works were influenced by the ancient flint structures and burial mounds that are found throughout the area. In 1974, she bought a farmhouse in the village of Woollards, near Bury St. Edmunds, where she lived and worked for the rest of her life. Frink maintained a strong connection to Suffolk throughout her career, and her sculptures and prints often feature motifs and imagery that reflect her love of the countryside and its inhabitants.
(1930 – 1993)
Elizabeth Frink CH DBE RA
Elizabeth Frink was a British sculptor and printmaker who rose to prominence in the 1950s and 1960s. Born in Suffolk in 1930, Frink studied at the Guildford School of Art and later at the Chelsea School of Art in London. She is best known for her bronze sculptures of animals, birds, and human figures, which are characterized by their powerful, imposing forms and expressive, often confrontational, poses.
Frink's early works were heavily influenced by the post-war existentialist movement, and many of her sculptures depict figures in a state of tension or anxiety. Her iconic "Goggle Head" series, created in the late 1950s, featured helmeted heads with distorted features that conveyed a sense of fear or unease. In the 1960s, Frink began to focus more on the human form, and her sculptures became more muscular and dynamic, reflecting her interest in the athletic and physical.
Throughout her career, Frink was a prolific printmaker, producing etchings, lithographs, and screenprints. Her prints often featured the same motifs as her sculptures, such as birds, horses, and figures in motion, and were highly sought after by collectors.
Frink's work has been exhibited extensively in the UK and internationally, and can be found in many public collections, including the Tate in London, the National Gallery of Art in Washington D.C., and the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York. She was awarded the Order of Merit in 1982, and was made a Dame in 1987 for her contributions to the arts. Frink passed away in 1993 at the age of 63, but her powerful, expressive sculptures continue to captivate and inspire viewers today.